Hanging scaffolding

ABSTRACT

A handrail system for hanging scaffolding including a pair of spaced, confronting ladders suspended on an outriggered beam. The rungs of the ladders directly support the scaffold decks of a plurality of stages. A handrail and midrail for each stage is secured, at its ends, to the outer sides of the ladders by pivotal handrail brackets attached to channel clamps which are adjustably fastened within the rail to compensate for variations in distance between the confronting ladders. Special flange clamps are provided for supporting the deck side rails without the necessity of perforating and weakening of the side rails. A toe rail or plate prevents tools and equipment from falling onto lower stages or the ground.

United States Patent 1191 July 23, 1974 Shingler HANGING SCAFFOLDING [75] Inventor: Thomas M. Shingler, Pittsburgh, Pa. [73] Assignee: Cyclops Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa.

[22] Filed: Dec. 21, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 317,180

52 US Cl... 182/106, 182/36, 182 113, v 182/119, 182/150 [51] int. Cl. E04g 3/10 [58] Field oi'Search 182/118, 119, 179, 178, 182/113, 150, 36; 248/228; 256/65, 59

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 2,136,696 l1/l938 Lamb 182/150 2,675,201 4/1954 Friel 248/228 3,018,077 l/l962 Buehler.. 256/65 3,340,959 9/1967 Wilson... 182/119 3,391,757 7/1968 Duke 182/150 3,613,831 10/1971 Estep 182/27 Primary Examiner--Reinaldo P. Machado [5 7 ABSTRACT A handrail system for hanging scaffolding including a pair of spaced, confronting ladders suspended on an outriggered beam. The rungs of the ladders directly supportthe scaffold decks of a plurality of stages. A handrail and midrail for each stage is secured, at its ends, to the outer sides of the ladders by pivotal handrail brackets'attached to channel clamps which are adjustably fastened within the rail to compensate for variations in distance between the confronting ladders. Special flange clamps are provided for supporting the deckside rails without the necessity of perforating and weakening of the side rails. A toe rail or plate prevents tools and equipment from falling onto lower stages or the ground.

9 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTED JUL 2 31974 SHEET 1 OF 3 PATENTED M23!!!" SHEET 3 BF 3 Fig.8.

FigJOa.

1 HANGING SCAFFOLDING This invention generally relates to hanging scaffolding and, more particularly, to a handrail system therefor.

An outstanding disadvantage of presently used hanging scaffolding suspended along the side of a building, to enable erection of panels for fabricating walls thereof or for otherpurposes, is that they do not embody sufficient safety features to fully protect workmen, tools and equipment against the possibility of falling, particularly because of the lack of a satisfactory protective rail system. Handrail systems are generally make-shift devices comprised of aluminum angles or posts, cables, clamps, etc. which require perforations in the scaffolding formounting, thereby weakening the scaffolding, alsowhich reduce workingclearance for workers supported on the scaffolding.

Another disadvantage is that no suitable barriers are provided for preventing tools and equipment from dropping from the scaffolding to lower stages or to the ground.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel hanging scaffolding assembly devoid of the abovenamed disadvantages and including a novel handrail, midrail and toe rail or plate, the latter being for the purpose of preventing falling of tools and equipment,

.so as to provide complete safety for workers, and being both inboard and outboard.

Another object of the invention-is to provide a novel mounting means for a handrail and midrail system so as to automatically adjust for variations in distances between the suspended ladders whose rungs serve as supports for the working decks or stages of scaffolding.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a hanging scaffolding system which enables precision prefabrication; flexibility of position on the staging;

elimination of holes in the staging to support the posts or rails; provision for different sizes of staging; provision of extra space for arm movement of workmen as compared to conventional inside mounted hand rails and mid rails; ease of assembly, disassembly and transportation; and provision of a minimum number of inexpensive parts which, can be quickly and cheaply manufactured and yet which are strong and light in weight to reduce the dead load of the scaffolding.

Othei' objects and advantages will become more apparent from a study of the following description, taken with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of hanging scaffolding suspended between two spaced confronting ladders and embodying particular features of the present invention including a handrail, midrail and toe plate or rail for each of the four stages;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along line IIII of FIG. 1 showing a rung of one of the suspended ladders; FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary view showing one end of the handrail 9 illustrating its adjustable supporting means pivotally mounted on ladder 3;

FIG. 3a is a perspective view of a modified form of tab or stop at the end of midrail FIG. 4- is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 5; j

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational view FIG. 6 is an enlarged, elevational side view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 1 illustrating the handrail, midrail, toe plate and scaffold deck of one of the stages of scaffolding;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, elevational rear view as viewed from the right side of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the inboard toe plate and assembly,

FIG. 9 is an enlargedcross-sectional view of the inboard toe plate support;

FIG. 10a is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the clamp 20 of FIG. 6 shown in its initial position for assembly; and,

FIG. 10b is a similar view showing its assembled position.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawing, numerals 1, 1 denote outriggers withwheeled supporting'elements adapted to travel horizontally along roof eave 2. Suspended from each outrigger 1 is a ladder 3, preferably of aluminum, suspended by a pair of steel bars or wire rope bridles 4 extending angularly to the side rails of the ladders 3.

FIG. 1 shows four vertically spaced scaffold stages (although a larger or smaller number may be used instead), one of which stages is shown in detail in FIGS. 6 and 7, it being understood that each of the four stages is of the same construction. Each stage -7 comprises a scaffold deck 6 mounted on deck side rails 5 which are directly supported on corresponding confronting rungs 13 of opposite ladders 3, 3 (FIG. 5).

FIGS. 2 and 3 show how the ends of the mid rail 10 are pivotally and adjustably mounted on the side of ladder 3. Through the rung 13 of the ladder there projects a supporting ladder bolt 12, to which is pivoted, one end portion of the mid, rail bracket 11. The other end portion of the bracket 11 is connected, by means of a bolt and washer 14, to a channel as will appear more clearly in FIGS. 6 and 7. After channel clamp 17 is positioned properly within the mid rail 10, it is fastened showing the deck side rail and outboard toe plate or rail at one end thereof;

in place to the mid rail 10 by a self locking nut 16a.

By providing a bent tab 10a at each end of mid rail 10, which projects at an angle of about 45 from the web portion of channel 10 from which it is struck out, a limit stop is provided for preventing complete withdrawal of channel clamp 17 from the mid rail 10. Alternatively, as wedged flange 10b as shown in FIG. 3a may be used. In view of the specific mounting of mid rail 10 on the ladders, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, any variation in distance between the opposed two suspended ladders 3, 3 will be compensated for by adjustable rotation of the mid rail bracket 11 about ladder bolt 12 as a pivot. These Figures also show the positive manner in which the clamps are fastened to the ladders.

The handrail 9 is suspended by rail'brackets 11 in a manner similar to that illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 for the mid rail 10.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the manner in which the scaffold stages 7, 7 are supported, namely, directly on top of the rungs 13 of the special, confronting ladders. Toe rail bracket24 and toe rail or plate 15 are bolted together by bolt 25 fastened to channel clamp 17 which is adjustably slid within the aluminum toe plate or rail 15. Bolt 27 is rigidly fastened to bracket. 24 and is surrounded by a scaffold rung 26 onto the ends of which are screw threaded nuts 28, 28. A scaffold deck 6a is supported on scaffold rung 26 on which the workmen walk in performing their duty. The aluminum toe plate or rail 15 is for the purpose of preventing tools or equipment from dropping from the scaffolding to the lower stages or to the ground.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show, in more detail, the complete-assembly of one of the stages including handrail 9, midrail l and toe plate or rail 15. It will be noted that since handrail 9 and midrail 10 are mounted on the outside of aluminum posts 8, more working space is provided for the workmen as compared to mounting them on the inside, that is, .tothe right'of post 8 as viewed in FIG. 6. Thus at least 3 inches of extra space for body movement of the workmen is provided.

Turning now to the scaffold deck 6, deck side rails 5, are provided and mounted in a unique manner, namely, by flanged clamp 20 having an end portion extending downwardly and angularly so that in order to mount or suspend the deck side rail therefrom the flanged clamp 20 must be first tilted to the right, as shown in FIG. a, and then moved to its vertical position as shown in FIG. 10b for supporting or suspending the deck side rail from post 8 without the necessity of puncturing holes for attaching fastening means to the side rails 5. A removable 'tab 20a is provided to ac; comodate different widths of top flanges of the deck side rails 5. The rail support post 8 is rigidly clamped to the scaffold side rail 5 by means of a J-Bolt 23 which is tightened down by wing nut 23a. A web clamp 21 has a hole through which the shank of the J bolt 23 passes and has a flange 22 resting against rail 5 to provide the proper spacing and reinforcing.

While in FIG. 1, the toe rail is shown as having fixed ends, the handrail and midrail may have similar-fixed ends instead of pivotal ends, or all pivotal ends or any combinations of fixed and pivotal ends may be used for the three rails, or two additional post assemblies maybe used to bring the total post per stage to four.

FIG. 8 shows an inboard (side closest work) toe plate assembly comprising toe plate fastened by channel clamp 17 "and bolt 18' to a 4" wide aluminum plate 25 and to flange 19' of clamp 20' mounted on the inboard side rail 5"wit'h the assistance of J bolt 23 tightened by wing nut 23a.

FIG. 9 shows a modification of the inboard toe plate support assembly comprising inboard toe plate 15 mounted on the scaffold side rail 5 andheld in place by a U-bolt 31 with neoprene sleeves 32 to confine the toe plate against rotation if foot pressure is applied. The bolt is tightened by wing nuts 33.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a safe hanging scaffolding including a highly efficient handrail system together with a midrail and top plate or rail for providing complete safety for the workmen; furthermore, I have provided an assembly wherein the parts may be precisely prefabricated without the necessity of holes in the staging to support the posts or railing, and wherein different sizes of staging, for'example, either 5 inches or 6 inches depth and with either 1% inch or 2 inch widetop flange may be provided; also I have provided a novel suspension for a handrail and midrail on the ladders which allows at least 3 inches extra space for hand or body movement of the workmen beyond that normally provided by inside mounting thereof; furthermore, I have provided an assembly which is easily mounted and dismounted for transportation and which includes relatively simple and inexpensive parts of minimum number, thereby limiting the loss or misplacement of integral parts; furthermore, l haveprovided a hanging scaffolding wherein all parts are made of very strong, yet light weightmetal to reduce the dead load of the scaffolding and to provide a very high degree of safety for the workmen; also I have provided a rail systemwith its handrail, midrail plus inboard and outboard toe plates which add to the flexural rigidity of the scaffold deck in that each represents a structural channel held in intimate contact with the scaffold throughout loading and at all times these variousrail elements have their strong axis in such a position that they function as beams.

While I have illustrated and described several embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that these are by way of illustration only and that various changes and modifications may be contemplated within my invention and the following claims.

I claim: 1. In combination, a spaced pair of wheeled outriggers for movement along a roof cave of a building, hanging scaffolding comprising a pair of suspended metal ladders in spaced confronting relationship, each suspended from one of said Outriggers, said ladders each comprising sleeve shaped rungs and a pair of sides of channel shaped cross-section to which said rungs are rigidly secured, a ladder boltpositioned axially of each rung, a protective side rail, a bracket pivotally connected through adjusting means between each end portion of said side rail and one end of the ladderbolt of corresponding height to automatically compensate for variations in distances between said ladders, said adjusting means comprising a clamp slidably mounted in the-end portion of said protective rail and having locking means for rigidly fastening said clamp at the ad justed longitudinal position in said protective side rail.

2. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein the end flanges of said channel shaped protective side rail have bent down corners for preventing complete withdrawal of said clamp from either end of said rail.

3. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein a plurality of vertical stages are supported by said ladders, each stage comprising one of said outer protective rails,

each stage including a scaffold deck mounted directly 5. The combination recited in claim 4 together with. a second protective toe plate on the opposite side of said scaffold deck to prevent falling of tools and the like, either inboard or outboard of the work.

6. The combination recited in claim 4 wherein each of said scaffold decks includes a deck side rail fastened to one of said posts by a bracket including a flanged portion surrounding the sides of the top flange of said side rail, said flanged portion including an angularly downwardly and inwardly extending flange portionfor supporting the lower surface of said top flange.

7. The combination recited in claim 6 together with a J bolt extending laterally through each of said posts and being looped about the lower flange of said side rail to provide support therefor.

8. In combination, hanging scaffolding comprising a pair of suspended metal ladders in spaced confronting relationship, said ladders each comprising sleeve shaped rungs rigidly secured to the sides of each ladder, a ladder bolt positioned axially of each rung, and a protective side rail connected at each end to one .end of a ladder bolt of corresponding height, a plurality of vertical stages supported by said ladders, each stage comprising an outer protective rail pivotally mounted, through a bracket, to adjustable longitudinal positions of said rail, each stage including a scaffold deck mounted directly on confronting corresponding rungs of said ladders, a plurality of posts extending vertically 6 between said scaffold decks and protective railing, a toe plate extending parallel to said protective railing immediately above each scaffold deck to prevent tools and equipment from dropping downwardly from said decks, and a toe rail bracket pivotally connected to said deck side rail and toe plate through a channel clamp which is longitudinally slidable within said toe plate and fastened at adjustable longitudinal positions therein.

9. The combination recited in claim 8 together with a cylindrical scaffold rung rigidly secured to said deck side rails and including an axially extending bolt fastened at one end to said toe rail bracket. 

1. In combination, a spaced pair of wheeled outriggers for movement along a roof eave of a building, hanging scaffolding comprising a pair of suspended metal ladders in spaced confronting relationship, each suspended from one of said outriggers, said ladders each comprising sleeve shaped rungs and a pair of sides of channel shaped cross-section to which said rungs are rigidly secured, a ladder bolt positioned axially of each rung, a protective side rail, a bracket pivotally connected through adjusting means between each end portion of said side rail and one end of the ladder bolt of corresponding height to automatically compensate for variations in distances between said ladders, said adjusting means comprising a clamp slidably mounted in the end portion of said protective rail and having locking means for rigidly fastening said clamp at the adjusted longitudinal position in said protective side rail.
 2. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein the end flanges of said channel shaped protective side rail have bent down corners for preventing complete withdrawal of said clamp from either end of said rail.
 3. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein a plurality of vertical stages are supported by said ladders, each stage comprising one of said outer protective rails, each stage including a scaffold deck mounted directly on confronting corresponding rungs of said pair of ladders.
 4. The combination recited in claim 3 together with a plurality of posts extending vertically between said scaffold decks and protective railing, and a toe plate extending parallel to said protective railing immediately above each scaffold deck to prevent tools and equipment from dropping downwardly from said decks.
 5. The combination recited in claim 4 together with a second protective toe plate on the opposite side of said scaffold deck to prevent falling of tools and the like, either inboard or outboard of the work.
 6. The combination recited in claim 4 wherein each of said scaffold decks includes a deck side rail fastened to one of said posts by a bracket including a flanged portion surrounding the sides of the top flange of said side rail, said flanged portion including an angularly downwardly and inwardly extending flange portion for supporting the lower surface of said top flange.
 7. The combination recited in claim 6 together with a J bolt extending laterally through each of said posts and being looped about the lower flange of said side rail to provide support therefor.
 8. In combination, hanging scaffolding comprising a pair of suspended metal ladders in spaced confronting relationship, said ladders each comprising sleeve shaped rungs rigidly secured to the sides of each ladder, a ladder bolt positioned axially of each rung, and a protective side rail connected at each end to one end of a ladder bolt of corresponding height, a plurality of vertical stages supported by said ladders, each stage comprising an outer protective rail pivotally mounted, through a bracket, to adjustable longitudinal positions of said rail, each stage including a scaffold deck mounted directly on confronting corresponding rungs of said ladders, a plurality of posts extending vertically between said scaffold decks and protective railing, a toe plate extending parallel to said protective railing immediately above each scaffold deck to prevent tools and equipment from dropping downwardly from said decks, and a toe rail bracket pivotally connected to said deck side rail and toe plate through a channel clamp which is longitudInally slidable within said toe plate and fastened at adjustable longitudinal positions therein.
 9. The combination recited in claim 8 together with a cylindrical scaffold rung rigidly secured to said deck side rails and including an axially extending bolt fastened at one end to said toe rail bracket. 